Local Bar Hosts Benefit For Greenville Shooting Spree Victim

Family, friends, and well-wishers came out to support one of the victim’s of last year’s shooting spree in Greenville.

Proceeds collected Sunday at the bar "LIVE" off Fire Tower Road in Greenville will go toward the expenses of Vernon Leggett and his family.

Leggett was hit by several shotgun pellets during the shooting that took place in the parking lot of the Walmart last June. While some of Leggett’s wounds have healed, we’re told others still require medical attention, and have prevented him from going back to work. That has put the financial burden on his wife and daughter.

"He had five surgeries in about 2 weeks. He lost his kidney, his spleen, his gallbladder, he's still got a place in his back that's draining, I go every day and change the bandage on his back,” said Amy Leggett, Vernon’s daughter, “So, he's getting back to his daily activities but is still limited on what he can do. His stamina hasn't come back."

Trial for the suspect in the case, Lakim Faust, has been set for January 20th of next year.

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It's the shooting spree that changed the lives of four people in the east. Since the Walmart shooting in Greenville in June 2013, the victims have struggled to recover from their injuries.

One of the victims is speaking out on camera for the first time since that day.

WITN sat down with Vernon Leggett on Thursday. He was hit in his forehead, hip and back.

Nearly a year later, Leggett still struggles with his injuries on the road to recovery. The scar on his forehead has healed and his hip is okay, but the pain in his back still affects him every day.

It's been a challenge for him to work because he has trouble bending over, but he's in good spirits and thankful to be alive.

Leggett described the feeling of being shot at point-blank range after trying to hide himself.

"It was kind of like being hit with a baseball bat, but in a small area," recalls Leggett. "It was like an electrical shock going through my whole body."

Leggett says he wiggled his toes to make sure he wasn't paralyzed. He spent the next four weeks in the hospital and his spleen, gallbladder and kidney were removed.

Because Leggett isn't able to go back to work, the injuries have put a financial burden on his wife and daughter.

A fundraiser is being held for Leggett on Sunday from 2:00-6:00 p.m. at Live. That's next to Harris Teeter off Firetower Road in Greenville.

The other shooting victims were Tim Edwards, Carroll Oakes, and Haywood Wichard. All four survived.

As for the alleged shooter, Lakim Faust, Leggett says he should have gotten help years ago. He says he doesn't dwell on what happened to him or feel any anger toward Faust.

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